Page 48 - CleanIndiaJournal June Digital Issue

Floor Care

Stone floor maintenance
Cleaning and caring for

and

Nothing says class more than a stone floor. However, both marble

and granite can be expensive to procure. Lapses in maintenance
will shorten their lifespan, necessitating unaffordable replacements,
or worse, leading to a shoddy appearance.

Here is a compendium of common challenges and practical
solutions for stone floor cleaning from industry experts themselves.

Suresh Khadka, Executive Housekeeper,
InterContinental Muscat

Problems galore spilled liquid has already been
absorbed by the stone. Tyre
The main characteristic of marks, oil and grease in the
stone floors is that they are entrance, lobby or parking areas
absorbent. If not cleaned and have a similar effect.
maintained regularly, the chances
of efflorescence, rust spots, If these are not cleaned up
yellowing stains, oil spots, quickly, it is very difficult to
weathering, ageing, fading etc are remove the stains later with
more. regular cleaning.
The biggest challenge to
maintaining such floors depends Mandatory processes
upon which area of the facility Even though both granite
they are used in. For example, and marble are hard materials,
marble/granite is used in the they are still not resistant to the
vanity counter of hotel toilets/ long-term ravages of dust and
bathrooms; the chances of this soil particles. Therefore, regular Marble stone floors must
staining are high as it absorbs cleaning with a dust collector be kept dry and ventilated; it
soap scum (which is acidic), and or marble-friendly duster/mop is better to avoid excessive
the non-drying of water for a (which will not scratch the humidity. Moisture in the
long time leaves water marks and marble) is a must. environment will cause hydration,
causes marble etching. Regular cleaning alone cannot hydrolysis and carbonation of the
marble stone. This can lead to the
Similarly, in restaurant keep the floor glossy and shining; formation of water spots, white
areas, liquids like tea, coffee, grinding and polishing are blooms, weathering and other
carbonated drinks, sauces, oil important too. However, excessive things that will destroy the stone.
and spices may spill on the stone grinding or cutting of the marble
floor. Once this happens, it is can also shorten the lifespan of the Scratching of the surface
very difficult to clean since the floor. should also be prevented. While

JUNE 2023•Clean India Journal
48 www.cleanindiajournal.com